The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2007;9:4:233-242
doi: 10.1576/toag.9.4.233.27353
Copyright © 2007 by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Mesh-free anterior vaginal wall repair: history or best practice?
Geoff R McCracken, MRCOG, Clinical Fellow1 and
Guylaine Lefebvre, MD, Chief of Staff2
1. 15014 Cardinal Carter South, St Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Email: mccrackengeoff{at}hotmail.com (corresponding author)
2. St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Key content:
- Surgical correction of anterior vaginal wall prolapse is a common gynaecological procedure, with traditional anterior colporrhaphy changing little over the past 100 years.
- Within the literature, terminology is confusing, both on anatomical structures and classification of anterior vaginal wall prolapse.
- Synthetic meshes have become available but the evidence to support their use is limited and long-term adverse effects are not clear.
- The paravaginal repair is an alternative to consider and can be approached vaginally, abdominally or laparoscopically.
Learning objectives:
- To revise the relevant anatomy of the anterior vaginal compartment and the classification of anterior vaginal wall prolapse.
- To review the evidence for the use of permanent mesh in pelvic floor surgery.
- To learn about the surgical options for correction of anterior vaginal wall prolapse without the use of vaginal mesh.
Ethical issues:
- Should permanent meshes be used for anterior vaginal wall prolapse outside a clinical research setting?
Please cite this article as: McCracken GR, Lefebvre G. Mesh-free anterior vaginal wall repair: history or best practice? The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2007;9:233–242.
Keywords anterior colporrhaphy / anterior vaginal wall prolapse / paravaginal repair / pelvic floor surgery / synthetic mesh
Copyright © 2007 by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
